Kitten Love

As promised, here are some shots of the new kittens. We've now got names for all of them. Everyone have a great weekend!

Isabella and Zoie

Isabella

Obi Wan

Obi Wan and Fergie.

Napping kittens.

DragonCon Pictures...the First Few

Sorry I was MIA yesterday. Casey wasn't getting any better, so I took the day off to drive him to our doc. He has a very nasty ear infection. He is now armed with anitbiotics, so he should start to feel better soon.

As promised, here is the first of the DragonCon pictures. I'll post the whole album address, as soon as I get it set up. These are just starters.

My very first Imperial costume and my first "official" troop with the 501st.

Early morning group shot of a few of the 501st: Southern Outpost members.

Jedi VS Clone Troopers at the DragonCon Parade.

Casey and I meeting Anthony Daniels: C3PO.

Meeting Ray Park: Darth Maul.

Checking In

I'm back from DragonCon. I had a fabulous time!! We had to cut our time in Atlanta shorter than we had planned. Casey got sick on Saturday, so we skipped out on all of the Sunday stuff. He's got it pretty bad. He's so puny, in fact, that he's got a dr.'s appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning. I hate it so bad for him. Yesterday was his birthday, and he felt horrible.

I have a huge pile of stuff to get done, and since I forgot the camera cord today, I'll give the short version of the weekend. Friday morning we got up and moving early. It seemed no matter how much progress that we made, the later our departure time got. We finally ended up leaving around 3:00 p.m. Casey was already feeling a little under the weather, when we left. We got there and met Kim and her finace, Joey, at the hotel. All of us piled in the car and made our way to downtown. We went through registration and picked up our badges. They were tough on checking badges going in and out of the hotels this year. We had an 11:00 p.m. meeting with the 501st Legion, Southern Outpost. I got to introduce Kim and Joey to all of our trooping friends. Afterwards, we just kind of hung out with everyone and filtered through the three hotels.

On Saturday, we were up early. I had my Imperial Officer costume completed and was ready to march in the DragonCon Parade. Casey's Snowtrooper was finished, but he felt so lousy that he chose not to march. Everyone marching had to be at the staging area at 8:30 a.m. The parade stepped off at 10:00 a.m. Here is a quick clip of the parade that CNN captured. Click HERE. The officers were all behind the Stormtroopers and Clonetroopers. It was a LOT of fun. After the parade on Saturday, I got to meet Anthony Daniels, C3PO, and Ray Park, Darth Maul. While in line to meet Anthony Daniels, we met a really nice fan named J.J. Turns out J.J. is a professional photographer. He introduced himself, when Casey mentioned that he hoped our battery lasted just a few more minutes. He was really nice and offered to take our picture with a nice professional camera. The picture turned out fantastic!! I hope to post it here soon. Anthony Daniels is really a super person. He told us the most interesting story about the picture we had signed. Ray Park is a super guy as well. He was very friendly and warm. We talked a little bit about martial arts, and he was very encouraging. I'll post the pics soon!! We finished up with panels and dealer's rooms on Saturday. Casey just got sicker and sicker through the day, so we headed back to the room around 7:30 p.m. By Sunday morning he was done for, so we just came on back home. All in all, we had a fun but short weekend.

Not Enough Time

I had such a great post planned for today. I had pictures that I was going to post, and cute stories that I was going to tell. Today has been so BUSY, that has totally flown right out the window! I just have time enough to tell you all that I'm leaving for Atlanta in the morning. I'm headed out to the yearly pilgrimage of DragonCon. I'll be back on Wednesday. I promise to have LOTS of kitten pictures and con pictures too! Everyone have a great holiday weekend!!

Kitty Crazy

I have battled all week long with the dreaded migraine! It actually started on Sunday afternoon, but I was able to refuse it's existence until late Monday afternoon. So, updating the blog was not an option. I was totally down for the count yesterday, but I'm finally feeling better; not great but better. I have so much to tell you all about. I just hope that everyone will hang around for the long haul.

Friday afternoon, Casey and I headed to Kim's house to pick up the three new additions. They are absolutely adorable, and they act as cute as they look!! For now, as you all could probably guess, we are going to keep all three. It only took a couple of hours to get attached. The shelter is really full right now, so we are kind of in a quasi fostering situation. Usually, most of our fosters end up as permanent residents. We did make quite a few pictures that I'll post here soon. The rest of the "Zoo" seems to be taking the new additions in stride. Fergie, the last addition to the household isn't quite sure what to make of the little furballs, but she is starting to settle. Right now, we don't leave them alone together. Another friend of mine, Zinia just adopted a new kitten on Monday. Since we are both trying to keep kittens entertained, she sent me a great link with instructions for a cat condo. It's made out of brown paper sacks!! It's a really cool design, so if you're interested, click HERE.

On Saturday, Casey and I made our way up to Clarksville. Casey's cousin, Andrew, just came back from his deployment in Iraq. We were lucky enough to be able to spend some time with him on Saturday. He looks like he's doing really well, and we're all glad that he's back home safe. He took us to a really neat restaurant in Clarksville for dinner. The menu is crazy!! They have a little bit of everything to eat. We enjoyed dinner and catching up. Afterwards, we went back to base with him for a bit. We got to meet some of his friends that he spent time with in Iraq. We made some pictures there as well. I'll have a big picture update tomorrow!

After we left Andrew, we headed to another friend's house in Clarksville. It was time for our monthly 501st Southern Outpost prop party. Everyone was building and finishing projects. DragonCon starts this coming Friday, and we all want to be ready for it. I just have a few little finishing touches to put on my officer's uniform and I'll be finished. Casey's Snowtrooper is done as well. I'll have LOTS of pictures to post after DragonCon. We finally got to a stopping point and made the drive back home. It was around 2 a.m., when we finally got home and into bed. Saturday was a REALLY long day!

Sunday morning Casey went and did shelter duty. At 12:35 p.m. I met several members of the Celebration Pet Day committee at the Walking Horse Celebration grounds to pass out our Pet Show flyers at that afternoon's dog show. It was one of the most hot, miserable days I can remember in a long time. It was mass chaos out there as well. We handed out flyers for over an hour. Hopefully, it got some extra word out about our event. Afterwards, I came home and collapsed. That was when the awful headache started bothering me. Although, I guess it's no wonder after the weekend we had!

There are no really big plans for today. I'm just trying to rest up a little. Tonight, one of my friends is putting new brakes on my car. We're trying to get it ready for the trip to Atlanta to DragonCon on Friday. Casey will be busy working a ballgame tonight until 10 p.m. So, I'm sure that I'll be shot tomorrow. Everyone have a good afternoon!

New Arrivals

Here I go again!!! Casey and I get new additions to the family this afternoon. Kim's barn cat had kittens that were in desperate need of a good home. I caved in the worst way. So this afternoon, we go to pick them up. We are getting a gray boy (I've ALWAYS loved gray cats), who I'm calling Obi Wan; Obi for short. I was only going to get the one, and then I remembered the destruction a bored kitten can have on a place. So, Casey and I decided to get two. The other is going to be a girl. Casey gets to decide which of the two girls this afternoon. Here are the pictures:

Obi Wan

Here are the two girls:

Bear will be ecstatic. He LOVES kittens. As a matter of fact, he thinks all kittens belong to him. He's very maternal to be a male. I'll report back on Monday with more pictures. I'm sure that I'll have a very exciting weekend!

Gearing Up

There's not much other than just the usual going on for me and Casey. Our town is gearing up for it's annual Walking Horse Celebration. Town will be flooded. Eating dinner out is out of the question. Imagine 50,000 extra people in a town that usually only holds about 16,000. Yeah, you get the picture.

Right now, we are preparing ourselves for our annual trip to DragonCon. This year I have a costume, so I'll be traipsing about in gear and so will Casey. My co-worker, Kim and her fiance will be there as well. It will be nice to have a little extra estrogen on hand this year. I'm looking forward to seeing and spending time with all my friends from the 501st Legion, Southern Outpost. There are so many cool things that I want participate in this year. I'm also really looking to the weekend in Atlanta. It's just nice to get away for a few days.

Tonight, the Celebration Pet Day Committee is meeting at our event location. Hopefully, we can figure out the best way to set everything up. Things are coming together nicely. We've gotten permission to hand out flyers at the Celebration Dog Show to advertise our Pet Show. Last year I judged the event, and we had over 500 entries. It seems like a really good way to advertise and get more participation. Three other committee members, along with myself, will be there Sunday to pass out all of the pet show and informational flyers. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it pays off.

My life just hasn't been very eventful lately, but I guess that's a good thing. Right??

You've got SNAKES!

Click HERE

"Snakes" Over the Weekend

Sorry for my infrequent visits lately. I think that I may have a little less writer's block this week. Anyway, Casey and I had a terrific weekend. Yes, we went to see the much hyped "Snakes On A Plane" this past Saturday night. I'll admit it. I was just about as jaded a skeptic as you could get about this film from the get go. I couldn't imagine a more ridiculous idea for a movie. In spite of this I knew early on, that I would go and see it. I'm a HUGE Samuel L. Jackson fan, and his enthusiasm for this movie is infectious. As the release got closer and I heard more about it, I couldn't help but think of it as a fun summer flick. We had a great crowd in the theatre. Lots of teenagers and couples and just regular folks. There were two little ladies that stood out. They were grandmothers. They had apparently brought their grandchildren to see the film. As the snakes came out, one of the grandsons snuck up behind his grandmother and ran his fingers down her neck. She let out the most blood curdling scream accompanied by "HAVE MERCY!!!". It was absolutely hysterical. The whole time these two were puctuating the whole thing with little phrases like, "...get that baby!" and "...watch your leg!" It's the little things like that, that make seeing movies so much fun for me. I love it when the crowd applauds, and this one did. We hooted, hollered, and screamed the whole way through.

Now for the plot. Highly poisonous snakes are unleashed on an unsuspecting plane load of passengers by a criminal in an attempt to kill a key witness to keep him from testifying (could that sentence BE any longer?!!) If you want a serious film with a poignant message, then stay away from this film!! If you want pure entertainment, then this is the film for you. This film is full of thrills, screams, and just plain fun. It's not meant to be taken seriously. Yes, at times, it's totally predictable, but it was still well worth my entertainment dollar. Lots of times Saturday night, I found myself with my knees tucked up to my chin, clutching Casey's arm, wondering if the plane would crash and kill everyone or if the snakes would get everyone first. I don't recommend it for anyone with a phobia of snakes. I can also say, the fact that it was set in a plane that was in trouble made Casey (horrible phobia of flying) sweat it a little bit. In the very end, I had a fantastic time. I can also say that I'd be willing to go back again, especially with someone who hasn't seen it yet. When it comes right down to it, I was entertained. I had good company, good popcorn, and I left the theatre happy. That's what makes it a winner in my book. I say go see it and be happy!!

Snakes also has a great soundtrack. Stick around during the credits to see the music video for the movie theme. The Snakes On A Plane website is great too! It has clips from the soundtrack, downloads, merchandise, and things like this:

You can also have Samuel L. Jackson call your friends and family and tell them to go and see the movie. You can really personalize this phone call. It lasts for about a minute and is hysterical!!

Coming Back

I apologize for not showing up this week. See, I've had a terrible case of writer's block. This is the first time I've experienced it, since starting this blog. It could have something to do with the fact that I've been terribly busy with Celebration Pet Day. My friend, Elaine, is certainly doing a fantastic job helping me plan everything. We've pretty much gotten everything squared away food wise. I'm still sending out vendor invitations and rescue group invitations. This week, Elaine secured a fantastic challenge trophy for out Best in Show class. Mary Jo Pitts and Puppy Palace (a local grooming and boarding facility) is sponsoring the show for us. We have a great Celebration Pet Day Pet show planned. This is a fun show and is open to all kinds of pets, not just dogs! So all of you local pet owners, come on out and join us for the competition! The entry fee is $5.00 per class. Here is the class schedule as it stands today:

1. Cutest Tail - Owners up to 12 yrs.

2. Cutest Tail - Owners up to 12 to 18 yrs.

3. Cutest Tail - Owners 18 yrs. and over.

4. Color Class - Owners up to 12 yrs. (can be unusual or just very pretty vibrant or exceptional pretty regular colors).

5. Color Class - Owners 12 - 18 yrs.

6. Color Class - Owners 18 yrs. and over.

7. Critter Class - Furry pets (open to any furry pet other than dogs.)

8. Critter Class - Non furry pets (open to any pet such as iguana, snake, lizard, etc.)

9. Costume Class - Owners up to 12 yrs.

10. Costume Class - Owners 12- 18 yrs.

11. Costume Class - Owners 18 yrs. and over.

12. Adopt Me Class - These dogs need a new mommy or daddy!

13. Humane Society Alumni - Only for dogs that have been adopted through the Humane Society or a Shelter.

14. Best Trick

15. Puppy Class - Puppies under 9 months.

16. Ugliest Dog - We mean this in the most loving way!

17. Prettiest Dog - Children and pets up to 12 yrs.

18. Prettiest Dog - Children and pets 12 - 18 yrs.

19. Prettiset Dog - Adults 18 and over.

20. Cutest Dog - Children & pets up to 12 yrs.

21. Cutest Dog - Children and pets 12 - 18 yrs.

22. Cutest Dog - Owners 18 yrs. and over.

23. I Look Like My Dog - All ages.

24. Special Needs Dogs - Only for dogs missing a leg, eye, etc, or anything that makes them qualify special needs.

25. Best In Show - 1st place winners from all other classes.

Hiya!

It's been another uneventful day here. I've been fortunate enough to be inside in the nice airconditioning, while outside it swelters. I just checked the outside temps to see what I'm in for while swimming laps today. What I saw made me cringe: 99 degrees and it feels like 108!! There is a beautiful indoor pool that I could use, but the bright sunny days pull me outside. I just can't resist, so I load my water bottle half with ice and half with ice cold water and "just do it". I just feel better with some outdoor time everyday. It soothes my soul for some reason. I've missed my walks with Bear so much, since he has been plagued with some arthritis problems. The pool has become my outdoor outlet. I'm a regular there, and they expect me everyday at the same time. I've also met and become aquainted with the other regulars: call it a swimming social circle if you will. They do their required laps, while I plow away with my water aerobic equipment, before laps. It's quite a nice relaxation technique. The summer has been brutal at the outdoor pool. For the better part of 2 months now, we've been swimming in water at least 90 degrees. Just a tad warm to work out comfortably. The temperature had been rising so this week, they started pumping cold water into the lanes. The one ture thing about water that Alton Brown teaches and the pool proves: It takes a while to get water to temp but once it's there, it takes a while to change the temp too. Boy howdy!!! So in a short while, I'll be at the pool. I must be crazy!!

More Progress

Today has been a quiet day. In my spare time, I've gotten the forms and invitation letters ready to go out to other area pet rescues. If there's one thing I know about animal rescue, it's that networking works! While my shelter may not have the perfect pet that someone is looking for, one 20 miles down the road might. That equals one more animal saved in my book. Space made for one more animal to be taken in and saved. I like to subtract from the BIG total. So, I'm inviting every rescue in the area to come and have a meet and greet booth at Celebration Pet Day for FREE! I've also invited them to bring some of their adoptable pets, along with any organization literature. I'd love to see some animals get homes, because of this event.

I have realized to my horror, that we have scheduled our event at the same time as Nashville's Dog Days event. But, there's no way around it. Due to other county events and scheduling, this was the best day possible for us. It is my dream for our small event to one day be as successful as the Nashville event. We are trying to create and forge the kind of community support that the Nashville Humane Association has. To all of my friends and Nashville readers, please consider doubling your fun that day. Do both festivals. If you just cannot make the trip, please attend one!! Every person that supports any animal rescue organization helps. With that in mind, here are some quick details about our event as it's coming together:

2nd ANNUAL CELEBRATION PET DAY

Saturday, October 14, 2006

10:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Bedford County Agricultural Center

Benefits the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association

Come join us for a day of family fun.

Star Wars Character Meet and Greet, Programs, Dog Show, Games, Food, Vendors, and Fun!!

FREE ADMISSION!!!

Donations appreciated.

ALL dogs welcome that are leashed and up to date on vaccinations!!

For information contact the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association at (931) 684-KIND or e-mail SBCHA@hotmail.com

Working Towards the Goal

I apologize for the lack of a weekend update. I've been really busy the last week or so organizing Celebration Pet Day. Through the dog show that I judged a couple of weeks ago, I made some great contacts. I've been busy touching base with these folks to get an agility fun competition arranged and some volunteers. I spent most of the last weekend preparing vendor packets for booths at the event. I've so far sent out information packets to 21 potential vendors. I sure hope that we have some luck with response. Last year, our first year, I was overwhelmed at the incredible response that I received. In fact, our arena was too small to accomodate everyone. I just hope that I'm that lucky again this year.

I've also been busy trying to create a new graphic to represent our event. We'd love to use this graphic on our correspondence for Celebration Pet Day, as well as sell some t-shirts at the event. My problem? I have no graphic arts capability at all. I was never meant to design anything. So, I'm asking you all, my readers, for some backup. If anyone knows anything about graphic design, and would love to help out the Shelbyville-Bedford County Humane Association, I'd REALLY appreciate it. We'd just love it to say Celebration Pet Day, have SBCHA somewhere on it, and a cool logo. Even if you just have ideas about a design, I'd love to hear it. Feel free to comment away. I'd be pleased as punch to have some designs in my e-mail box too!! I'll give artist credit right on every t-shirt we sell. Please keep in mind, that 100% of the revenue from t-shirt sales go directly to the shelter for building upkeep and animal care.

There's another community dog show scheduled for August the 27th. We are gathering a group together to go out and hand out flyers about our show. This particular show had over five hundred entries last year. If we get permission to pass out flyers, that's a lot of free advertisement. My partner, Elaine, and I are busy getting food donation confirmations. It seems in these last couple of months of preparation, I miss my mind the most. If anyone has suggestions, program suggestions, or promotional ideas, please shoot me a comment. I'm so deep in it, it is always good to hear from another perspective. I'm thinking about starting a separate blog for the progress of this event and it's planning stages. I'll let you all know, if I decide to do that.

Great Day for Pets and Their People!!!

Congress passed the No Pets Left Behind legislation!! What a HUGE step forward for pet owners. I remember the horrible stories from the victims of Hurricane Katrina that were forced to leave their beloved guide dogs, assistance dogs, therapy dogs, pet cats and dogs, and other pets behind. It was terrible. I can't imagine facing a choice like that. Read on from the Humane Society of the United States below:

August 4, 2006

WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States praised the U.S. Senate for unanimously approving a Senate substitute to H.R. 3858, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act, just before adjourning for the August recess. H.R. 3858, as originally introduced in the House, was approved by that chamber in May by an overwhelming vote of 349 to 24.

The PETS Act, introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Chris Shays (R-CT) and in the Senate by U.S. Senators Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), will require local and state disaster plans to include provisions for household pets and service animals in the event of a major disaster or emergency. As this year's hurricane season approached, The HSUS had lobbied Congress and mounted a national advertising campaign to pass this legislation quickly to keep people and pets together next time disaster strikes.

"The House and Senate have taken an important step in ensuring that Americans will never again be forced to make an impossibly difficult choice: leave their animal behind while they flee a disaster or take their chances by staying in a disaster-stricken area with their pet," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "We are grateful to Senators Stevens and Lautenberg and Representatives Lantos and Shays for championing this important legislation. We hope it will soon be on its way to President Bush, who said during Hurricane Katrina that he would be sure to take his dog, Barney, if he was forced to evacuate."

To read the full artcle, click HERE. If you wrote to your legislators about this issue, please take a minute to drop them and say thanks!!

Pain In the Neck

It's been one of those days. I woke up this morning with a little crick in my neck. Not a big enough one that I can't function, but enough to really get on my nerves. I can't quite locate where it is, except it's on the left side. It's made my whole day off kilter. I've walked around with a slant to my step. I've tried to work it out, but no luck. I'm just hoping that I can function at the pool this afternoon. Sometimes, if I'm lucky, the pool is just the trick. It'll either make it better or much, much worse. I'm tired of looking at the world sideways today. It's just made things weird! That's it for today. The typing just makes my neck kink up tighter and tighter. If anyone has any suggestions, I'll be happy to see them. Until tomorrow....

The Past Few Days

The past few days have been both sublime and hectic at the same time. I had a really nice little break. I feel physically and mentally recharged.

Over the long weekend, I managed to finally get my 501st Legion costume underway. Hopefully, I'll be an offical member by the end of this month. There's still a couple more that I'd really like to get done for the Rebel Legion, but those may have to wait until next month.

Casey and I had a lot of fun together planning for our trip to DragonCon at the end of this month. We are looking forward to a little away time and being with friends. While there, we'll also get to debut our new costumes. It'll be interesting, that's for sure.

I got a lot of extra housework done over the weekend. Yesterday, I got Bear to the vet for his annual exam. He got a good report, even though he has a little ear infection. Afterwards, he got to go to PetSmart and run around sticking his nose in all of the treats. He's feeling kind of puny today, because of the vaccinations. A little extra love and treats for him tonight. Last night, we had some friends over for dinner and some gaming. I had to run out for a little bit to conduct a Celebration Pet Day meeting, but I didn't miss too much of the fun. It was nice to kick back and visit with friends. There was one downer to the weekend. Casey's youngest cousin, Eli was in a nasty car accident over the weekend. He is is now is intesive care. The worst is over and the prognosis is good, but it still made for a very stressful weekend. Everyone say a little prayer that Eli's recovery is as quick as predicted.

Meet Me At the Fair!!

The dog show was fantastic last night. It was a really nice group of participants. I had a co-judge last night. Jennie, the owner of the kennel (Kindred Spirits) where I worked, was my co-judge. It was really nice to have a partner. It took the pressure off a bit. Everyone seemed pretty happy with the results. There were 13 classes to judge. There was a good mix of dogs. I was so suprised when a lady from Fayetteville came up with her two Schipperkes!! One was a male a year or so old, and one was a female 5-6 months!! They were both so bearlike and cute!! I HAD to tell them about Bear of course. Anyway, turns out she's a breeder. She has two three month old female pups right now. I made sure to get her name, e-mail, and phone number. I have to have a look at those puppies!!

It took about two and a half hours to judge the entire competition. I didn't get a whole lot of pictures. It's really hard to judge a class, hold a water bottle, and make pictures at the same time. I did manage to snap just a few and quickly found out that my memory card was full!! DRAT!! It was my first visit to a my own county fair. Much to my suprise, Bedford County puts on a quite good fair. I'm trying to convice Casey that we need to go back this weekend and really explore.

My humane association got quite a bit of publicity for our upcoming event, Celebration Pet Day. We also made a good contact and were able to secure some borrowed agility equipment, along with a group to run a competition for us. I'm REALLY excited now. Things are coming together!

I'm taking a few days off, so everyone have a good weekend. I'll be back next week!

Scenes from the dog show.

The cute Schipperkes that suprised me!!

Doesn't he look JUST like Bear!!

A scene from the "Lap Dog" class.

Happy Birthday Mama!!

I wanted to take a minute to wish my Mama a very Happy, Happy 75th birthday!!

Mama,

You are my hero!! I love you!

My family circa 1986 or 87: My Mom, Dad, and me...eeep!

Mom, February 2006

Dogs Galore

I'm feeling a little better today. I have no idea what has me out of sorts this week. I have a big evening planned. Tonight, I'm judging the dog show at the Bedford County Fair. It's just a fun dog show, nothing serious. I did this similar thing at the Walking Horse Celebration dog show last August. In August, we had over 500 entries. It took more than three hours to complete that dog show. I just wonder how many entrants there will be tonight. I may be in for a rather late night. They are holding the show at the Bedford County Agricultural Center. This is the same location my humane association is holding its Celebration Pet Day event. Several of us, from the pet day committee, are going to be there. It will be an excellent chance for us to get a feel for how you can set up the grounds and how things operate. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm definitely taking the camera along, so I'll have plenty of pictures to share. Until tomorrow....

Out of Sorts

I'm just generally out of sorts today. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I'm fidgety and grumpy. I'm having a hard time deciding what to blog about too. I'm going to just go swim some laps today. That usually makes me feel much better. Tomorrow, I'll be back on schedule and in a much better mood!

I Wish

Every morning, when I get out of bed, I turn on the local news. I always like to see what's happened during the night, what the weather is going to be for the day, and the special interest stories too. When our local station finally decided to do a Saturday morning newscast, I was thrilled. One of their features every Saturday is a feature on the local animal shelter, hosted by one of the local personalities, "Big" Joe Dubin. This morning, as usual, I oohed and awwwed over the featured pets. Then, I heard Joe say a big thank you to all of the viewers. It seems that every shelter pet they have featured on the weekend piece for the last two months has been adopted!! What an accomplishment!!! I think it's wonderful. Every spot made, is another spot vacated to help another pet.

Anyway, it got me thinking. It would be wonderful if my small town of Shelbyville had this same venue for our homeless pets. It's at times like these, I wish that Shelbyville were a big city, like Nashville. What a wonderful opportunity for our animals. It just makes me feel that our pets deserve as much as all of the big city pets. We unfortunately don't have the city support that Nashville does for our programs. That's why my humane association is an "ALL volunteer" organization. We do what we can, but we always wish that we could do more. I think it would be a wonderful idea for the news station to feature an out of town shelter from their surrounding area once a month. Our shelter does LOTS of out of town and even out of state adoptions. Maybe one of our pets is just what someone is looking for a few towns away. BUT, you know what they say, "Wish in one hand....." Still it would be a fantastic opportunity for shelters and humane associations from the middle Tennessee area.

To all of you in other areas, how do you get your homeless pets exposure? Feel free to drop me a comment.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend!!

Where I Live

I was reading my local newspaper a couple of days ago, and found something absolutely hysterical. Well it's hysterical to me, since I live in Shelbyville. Until a recent boom in growth, all Shelbyville had in the way of entertainment was a two screen movie theatre and a Wal-Mart. Let's just say us residents have a way of keeping ourselves amused. As I read this little blurb in the blotter, I found myself actually laughing out loud. I've taken the names out to protect the not so innocent. Enjoy!!

Wrong Place

Allegedly intoxicated persons showed up in unusual locations over the weekend, according to Shelbyville police.

xxxxx, 46,xxx Road, fell into the salad bar after staggering into Faye's Cafeteria, North Main Street, and attempting to fondle a waitress late Sunday afternoon, police said.

xxxxxxx, 21, xxxx Street, was asleep in his car at the Pacific Pride fuel pumps, Depot Street -- where law enforcement officers obtain gasoline for their patrol cars -- when Officer Jerry Lawrence arrested him shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday. xxxx and xxxxx were each charged with public intoxication, Shelbyville police reports indicate.

Do you think it's the heat? Nah, I don't think so.

Joining the Crowd

With much protest, gnashing of teeth, and general whining, I've finally created myself a MySpace account. You see, I'm an old fashioned girl. I'm a blogger. I've made many fantastic friends through my blog, and I've become quite loyal to it. Not to mention, I've always felt a little bit "old" for MySpace. About a month ago, Casey's cousin, Andrew, sent me an e-mail with a link to his MySpace address. So, as a way to communicate with him easily in Iraq, I took the plunge. It's only been in this past week, that I've had a chance to play with my profile, view, and other buttons and whistles. Personally, I still don't think it's as user friendly as blog programs and definitely not as explanatory, but I press onward. They have a space on your page to place blogs, but I just crosslinked the "Zoo". Call me lazy, but I don't really want to get into my personal blog on two spaces. I do love all of the premade layouts that you can use. So if you all get a chance, visit me over at the Richardson Zoo MySpace place. There's a little extra trivia about me over there. I'd love to hear my reader's opinions on MySpace. Also, if you have a MySpace account, leave a comment. I'd love to add you to my friend list!

How Hot Is It?

It's been another hectic week. I'm short on time, so I'll just ask....how hot is it where you're from? Do you have airconditioning in your home? I ask because, living here in the south, it's such a strange notion NOT to have airconditioning. It's just something I'd never really thought about, until my visit to Cincinatti. I'll post more tomorrow. Everyone have a good evening.

It's Hot Out There!!!

I'm just taking a few minutes out of the sweltering day (the thermometer reads 100 degrees as I type this) to remind all pet owners of Hot Weather Pet Tips from the ASPCA.

- A visit to the veterinarian for a spring or early summer check-up is a must; add to that a test for heartworm, if your dog isn't on year-round preventive medication. Do parasites bug your animal companions? Ask your doctor to recommend a safe, effective flea and tick control program.

- Never leave your pet alone in a vehicle—hyperthermia can be fatal. Even with the windows open, a parked automobile can quickly become a furnace in no time. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

- Always carry a gallon thermos filled with cold, fresh water when traveling with your pet.

- The right time for playtime is in the cool of the early morning or evening, but never after a meal or when the weather is humid.

- Street smarts: When the temperature is very high, don’t let your dog standing on hot asphalt. His or her body can heat up quickly, and sensitive paw pads can burn. Keep walks during these times to a minimum.

- A day at the beach is a no-no, unless you can guarantee a shaded spot and plenty of fresh water for your companion. Salty dogs should be rinsed off after a dip in the ocean.

- Provide fresh water and plenty of shade for animals kept outdoors; a properly constructed doghouse serves best. Bring your dog or cat inside during the heat of the day to rest in a cool part of the house.

- Be especially sensitive to older and overweight animals in hot weather. Brachycephalic or snub-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs, Boston terriers, Lhasa apsos and shih tzus, as well as those with heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as much as possible.

- When walking your dog, steer clear of areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. And please be alert for coolant or other automotive fluid leaking from your vehicle. Animals are attracted to the sweet taste, and ingesting just a small amount can be fatal. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 if you suspect that your animal has been poisoned.

- Good grooming can stave off summer skin problems, especially for dogs with heavy coats. Shaving the hair to a one-inch length—never down to the skin, please, which robs Rover of protection from the sun—helps prevent overheating. Cats should be brushed often.

- Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

- Having a backyard barbecue? Always keep matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles and insect coils out of pets' reach.

- Please make sure that there are no open, unscreened windows or doors in your home through which animals can fall or jump.

Yesterday, a local news station aired a wonderful piece about pets and hot weather. Simply because of the report, a pet's life was saved. Click HERE to read Heather Orne's after story update.

Everybody keep cool out there!

Dangerous to Pets

I just wanted to share this with everyone. Tylenol and its generic counterparts is dangerous to pets. I got this alert from the ASPCA yesterday. Read on:

JUST HOW DANGEROUS IS ACETAMINOPHIN TO PETS?

No one needs to tell Beth Tucker of Syracuse, NY, how harmful acetaminophen can be to pets. In February 2006, Beth’s cat, Scooter, ingested a 500-milligran acetaminophen tablet that had been accidentally dropped on the floor.

Despite treatments by a local veterinarian, the beautiful grey cat did not recover. “She suffered tremendously for five days as we tried to save her,” says Beth. “We finally made the extremely painful decision to end her suffering.”

Sadly, Scooter is one of many cats to have succumbed to accidental acetaminophen poisoning. In 2005, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) handled close to 300 cases from around the country. Explains the APCC’s Dana Farbman, “Depending on the amount ingested, clinical effects can include a condition called methemoglobinemia, which affects blood cells’ ability to carry oxygen to vital organs.” In addition, liver damage and even death could result. And because cats lack a specific enzyme that enables the body to metabolize the drug well, they are especially sensitive to acetaminophen toxicity—although it can be toxic to dogs and other pets, as well. Cautions Farbman, “Pet owners should never give this medication to their animals, and should always store potentially poisonous substances in a secure cabinet above countertop level and out of the reach of pets.”

Beth and her family continue to miss Scooter every day. “She was the most loving kitty in the world,” says Beth. “And every evening at 5:00 P.M., if you were anywhere near the kitchen, you could count on Scooter meowing for her nightly treat.” Beth hopes that by sharing Scooter’s experience, she can help others avoid having to go through the anguish she suffered by losing her feline friend. “I feel that telling what happened to Scooter will help make something positive come out of our tremendous loss.”

If you think that your pet has accidentally ingested acetaminophen, or any other potentially dangerous substance, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center's emergency hotline at (888) 426-4435 for round-the-clock telephone assistance. For more pet poison prevention tips, please visit APCC online.

Everyone have a GREAT weekend!

I Wanna Go to the Zoo

I was surfing around yesterday and came across a really cool program from the Nashville Zoo. It's called Adventure Socials. This is how it works:

Nashville Zoo's new event series, Adventure Socials, brings together festive food, drink and music with unique animals and exotic "locations," right here at Nashville Zoo! The Socials are held on Zoo grounds after hours and since alcohol will be served, the events are only open to adults 21 years of age and older. Purchase tickets now while spots are available! Cost per ticket per event: $25 for Nashville Zoo members, $35 for non-members.

I somehow missed the information about this program back when it started, but there are a few really good programs left. Here's the info:

Down Under at Lorikeet Landing

Friday, July 14, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Rain Date: Saturday, July 15th

G'Day Mate! Taste Australian wines, enjoy great food and visit with colorful parrot friends inside this interactive habitat. Lorikeet Landing provides a lush and naturalistic environment for visitors and flocks of lorikeets to "meet and greet" while enjoying a peaceful summer evening on the Grassmere property. Don't miss the artistic elements of this exhibit's unique and amusing hand washing & drying stations.

**Please don't be late, the lorikeets go to bed at 7:30 p.m.

Mardi Grassmere at Alligator Cove

Friday, August 25, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Rain Date: Saturday, August 26th

Rendezvous with our new alligators down in the bayou for Cajun fare and hurricanes. A new habitat opening in 2006, Alligator Cove showcases one of our planet's greatest survivors: the American Alligator. Throw your Mardi Gras beads for this worthy reptile who has endured relatively unchanged for over two million years.

Safari Swizzle at the Elephant Savannah

Friday, September 15, 2006, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Rain Date: Saturday, September 16th

African wines and "elephantinis" are running rampant through the Savannah under the stars. Kiba, Hadari and Sukari, Nashville Zoo's elephants, welcome you to their home for some safari fare and a visit with the earth's largest land mammals. Learn about the extensive work that went into creating this spectacular habitat and how it provides a comfortable atmosphere for these gentle giants .

I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY want to go to the Safari Swizzle. I think it will be awesome with the elephants. Guess I'd better make my reservation!!

Dogs Are Helpful

I'm always amazed at the many ways dogs are used to improve our lives. There's search and rescue, guide dogs, bomb dogs, therapy dogs, and now we can add one more to that list. Did you know that dogs can help children learn to read better? Let me introduce you to the R.E.A.D program (Reading Education Assistance Dogs). These dogs are therapy dogs that sit, while the children read to them. Here's how it's explained on their official website.

The Reading Education Assistance Dogs® (R.E.A.D.) program improves children’s reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to a dog. But not just any dog. R.E.A.D. dogs are registered therapy animals who volunteer with their owner/handlers as a team, going to schools, libraries and many other settings as reading companions for children.

The are spotlighted in today's Dog Age Tip of the Week. Here's how they explain it:

The R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dogs) program pairs specially trained therapy dogs with children who are struggling with reading skills. The dog serves as an audience as the child reads aloud. Dog owners volunteer to take their trained dogs to schools and libraries throughout the U.S. and Canada. Contact your local R.E.A.D. organization to participate, or try this read-aloud approach at home.

R.E.A.D's programs are being used across the United States and Canada to improve children's literacy. What a great thing! I definitely want to learn more about this program.

Thank You

I just wanted to take a minute to say "Thanks" to everyone who has left such wonderful comments and e-mails about the newspaper article. It has meant a lot, along with everyone's support. Gotta run right now. I'll have a longer update tomorrow.

How Was Your Weekend?

My weekend was a whirlwind of activity!! Saturday afternoon, Casey and I headed up to Clarkville for a monthly prop party. Because of good ol' Kenny Chesney and his concert, it took us 3 hours to get from Mufreesboro to Clarksville. Sheesh!! I-24, our interstate route, was a parking lot!! We kept thinking we were stuck in construction, only to find out it was Mr. Chesney's fault. Needless to say, he is NOT on my favorite list of people this week. We finally got there and commenced to building armor. The talent of the guys at the prop parties ALWAYS astounds me. They are all extremely talented, and as smart as any prop builders in Hollywood too! A friend of ours, is making a latex mask. A few of the guys made him a face cast with nothing but aluminum foil, duct tape, and plaster of paris. It was ABSOLUTELY incredible to watch. We got lots of pictures of the process that I hope to get posted tomorrow. After a lot of work and visiting, Casey and I finally got home around 2 a.m.!

Sunday morning, Casey did the shelter and let me sleep in a little. When he got back home, we got cleaned up and went to eat lunch with a friend. After a nice lunch we went to our local theatre to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. It was FANTASTIC!!! I think I like it even better than the first one. The pace of this one was much quicker than the first too. I won't give anything away, but the ending sure was a suprise. I just wish that I had watched the first before seeing the new one. What can I say about Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow that hasn't already been said? He gives a wonderful performance again. I can't wait for the next one!

Yesterday, I woke up to my cell phone ringing. It was Casey. His car battery died, so I had to go and rescue him at 6:30 a.m. So, I was up early. By 1:00 p.m. I was so exhausted, that I was down for the count. I had a rather lengthy afternoon nap just to recharge. Casey fixed us a really nice dinner, and afterwards I did all of my weekly cleaning.

Who knows how exciting this weekend will be?

Weekend Mayhem

This week has been unusually busy. I can't seem to catch a break. I think after next week, everything will slowly get back to normal. I've already got a busy weekend all planned out too. Tonight, Casey and I are heading up to our friend's house in Clarksville. About once a month, the members of the 501st Southern Outpost get together to work on costumes and build props. We have a full schedule of trooping events this summer, so we always have a large gathering. Anyway, Casey is just about finished with his Snowtrooper armor. He's planning to break it in at the end of this month. We are going to appear at a charity event for the Ronald McDonald House for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. So, Casey is quickly trying to get the last little details finished up. Now, I just have to get started on my Imperial Officer costume. I spent an afternoon last week getting fabric ideas and getting my pattern. When you costume, it takes a while just to get everything together to start. I'm also getting stuff together for a Jedi Costume, Jocasta Nu, and for a Padme costume, Naboo Fighter Pilot. Someday, I'll get all of this done.

Tomorrow is our shelter day, so we'll be there first thing. Then, we are having lunch with a good friend. Afterwards, we'll head out to the movies to see Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. I can't wait. The reviews have been good. I'll be sure to let you all know what I think. So, my weekend is cram packed.

I gotta run for now. Time to go and get all of this weekend stuff done. I hope everyone has a great weekend too!

Local News Story

My local paper, the Shelbyville Times-Gazette , ran the story about my blog on Monday. I was featured, along with my friend Jennifer. Go and have a read. It was written by another local blogger, John Carney. Let me know what you guys think.....and now the nervousness sets in......

To read the story, click HERE.

Unbelievable and Incredible!!

As I was just waking up this morning, I heard an incredible survival story on the local news. It was a survival story about a kitten named Chipper. It is suspected that Chipper was asleep inside a wood chipper, when it was started up for the day. Miraculously after several surgeries and a lot of help, Chipper is doing really well. He'll be looking for his very own home soon. To read the full story of Chipper, click HERE.

Photo credit: (Sun-Sentinel/Danny Ghitis) Jul 3, 2006

Absolutely incredible!! I've never heard of anything like that before. I hope Chipper finds the loving home that he deserves!!

Happy 4th of July!

EVERYONE HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE 4TH OF JULY!!!

I'm off for several days of respite and relaxtion!! I'll be back next week!

4th of July Weekend Kickoff!

Busy has not only been my middle name this week, but it has also been my first and last too!! Work has been H-E-C-T-I-C!!! So much so that by the time I got home, I just ceased to exist. I apologize for my neglect here. I can't believe it's 4th of July time already!! This has always been one of my favorite holidays. I love family, friends, cookouts, fireworks, and swimming. I LOVE the summer holidays. While I love all of the excitement, I'm all too aware that 2 of my dogs absolutely DO NOT!!! Shiloh and Fergie are both TERRIFIED of fireworks and big crowds. So, I make sure that I leave them indoors, where they are the most comfortable. I make sure that I let them out before the fireworks start. I don't let them out again, until I hear mostly no sign of them in the neighborhood. The American Humane Association, Humane Society of the United States, and the ASPCA all remind pet owners to keep their pets safe during the 4th of July weekend. Here is the ASPCA's list of tips to keep your pooches and kitties happy this weekend:

* Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.

* Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.

* Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.

* Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.

* Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.

* Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.

* Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

Something Completely Different

I apologize for my absence yesterday. It has been REALLY crazy for me lately. I hope that I'll be back to normal soon. In the meantime, I thought that I'd share something completely different with everyone today. Last weekend, some of my friends in the 501st Legion went to a Sci-Fi convention (AdCon) in Knoxville. Although I didn't get to go myself, I'm really enjoying everyone's stories and pictures. One of the guests there was Ray Park. Ray Park is a respected martial artist, who is probably best known for his role as Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. I got the opportunity to meet him last year at DragonCon in Atlanta. He is really a super guy; very nice. He loves to meet his fans and talk with them. During one of the sessions, he took a few fans and recreated the awesome lightsaber duel between Darth Maul, Obi Wan Kenobi, and Qui Gon Gin. One of the members of the 501st caught it on film and posted it to YouTube.com. Here are the results. I love martial arts, so I think they're awesome!!

Goodbye Eddie

Frazier's ever famous Jack Russell, Eddie, passed away at the home of his trainer last Thursday. The dog's real name was Moose. Moose was 16 years old and apparently quite the character. In addition to his role as Eddie, Moose also appeared in the movie My Dog Skip, which I highly recommend (be sure to bring the box of tissues). Goodbye Moose, you will be missed. For more, click HERE.

Running Crazy

Today has been one of those days that I didn't know whether I've been coming or going. Some people would say, I have too many "irons in the fire" today. I have somewhat of a personal project that I'm working on that I'm not a liberty to talk about quite yet. Hopefully by next week, I can let everyone in on all the details. Don't worry. It's nothing huge, life changing, or bad. It's just something that I'm interested in doing, and I'm trying to make it happen. Until I have everything nailed down, I don't want to say anything.

Casey and I want to go to the drive in tonight, but we'll have to see how the weather holds out. It's been raining here, and that's o.k. It's been really dry, but the rain doesn't make for a good movie experience.

Other than my appointment at the local paper on Monday, I don't really have any other big plans this weekend. That's subject to change on a moment's notice, though. Everyone have a great weekend!

Local Story

A few days ago, I was contacted by one of my hometown newspaper's (Shelbyville Times-Gazette) reporters, John Carney. He is interested in doing a story on our small town's local bloggers. I quickly accepted his invitation. So Monday, I get to go to the paper and meet with him. It will be interesting to hear his thoughts on our local bloggers. I'm excited and a bit nervous at the same time. This blog is like my baby. As you all know, I use it as a way to educate and inform readers of homeless animals, pet related issues, and my life in general with my menagerie of pets. I've put a lot of my heart and soul into this place, and I'm a little nervous at the thought of such open exposure. It's so strange. It's not like I haven't had exposure before. Brittney over at Nashville's Talking has picked up several of my posts before. It's been wonderful. I've connected with so many people, right from my own area. There's a certain amount of safety being grouped with Nashville area bloggers. When it gets down to such a tight, small town demographic, it gets the nerves all a jitter. Has anyone had experience with this before? Any pointers? I'll keep everyone posted.

Get That Dog A Job!!

Click HERE to hear the theme song!

Tomorrow, June 23, is National Take Your Dog to Work Day. Take Your Dog to Work Day was started by Pet Sitters International back in 1999. Here's what the day is all about:

On June 23, 2006, Pet Sitters International will host its 8th Annual Take Your Dog To Work Day® event. Modern Dog magazine, Magna Hospitality Group and PETS 911 have joined PSI in its effort to bolster pet adoptions from shelters, humane societies and rescue groups and educate the public on the benefits of responsible pet ownership.

Pet Sitters International, the creator of the day, is asking businesses around the world to allow employees to bring their well-mannered dogs to the office on Take Your Dog To Work Day. The celebratory event is intended to promote the human-animal bond by facilitating positive interactions between dogless co-workers and their colleagues’ canine companions. However, there is much more to this annual festival of dog than simply celebrating man’s and woman’s best friend.

“Take Your Dog To Work Day is about confronting the realities of pet overpopulation in a positive and proactive way,” states PSI President Patti Moran. “People bringing their dogs to work in celebration of Take Your Dog To Work Day can make a huge difference in pet adoptions around the world.” Moran’s company, PSI, which represents approximately 7,500 independent professional pet-sitting businesses, says developing partnerships between businesses, animal shelters and pet-care professionals is key to the success of the day. The educational organization is asking participating businesses to open their doors to shelters, animal rescues and PSI members on June 23, in addition to allowing pets. “All dogs, especially those without loving caregivers, deserve good homes,” says Moran. “By working together, we can make a better day for dogs everywhere.”

Now if you're like me and it's not practical to actually take your dog to work, there are other things you can do to help promote the occassion. Pet Sitters International lists 10 things you can do on this day to help, whether or not your favorite companion goes with you.

1. Spearhead a Fido Fundraiser!

Designate the proceeds to a local animal charity, shelter or rescue group. Anyone can hold a fundraiser and the best part is that you're helping your own community.

2. Hold a Doggie Adopt-A-Thon!

This can be done at the office or at your local shelter. Make arrangements for a few animals from the shelter to visit your office and maybe your co-workers will take them home. That's what TYDTWD® is all about!

3. Put on a Pet Fair!

Invite local pet vendors and shelters to come and talk about their businesses. Ask them to donate products or gift certificates for a raffle or silent auction. Then, donate the proceeds to the local shelter.

4. Picture This - A Photo Session!

Last year, the marketing department of a participating company donated their time and expenses to take photos of the associates with their dogs. The photos cost $10.00 each and all of the proceeds were matched by the company and donated to a local shelter. At another company, the employer took photos with a digital camera and gave each dog owner a framed copy.

5. Party Hearty!

From a hot dog lunch with all the fixings to a simple afternoon break with dog bone-shaped cookies and doggie treats, everyone deserves a little “paws” at work!

6. Play Doggie Dress-up!

Let’s face it, dogs dressed as people are funny and adorable. Dress up your pup and hold a doggie costume contest or a puppy parade.

7. Educate Other Employees!

Sure, this day is about having fun, but what’s most important is raising awareness about homeless dogs! Use the day as a way to educate people in your community about animal misconceptions, homeless animal statistics, health benefits of pet ownership and more.

8. Decorate...Doggone It!

Be sure to put up posters, wear your TYDTWD® T-shirt and bring in your Doggie Briefcase to show your support for the event!

9. Make Mutt Memories!

Keep a photo album of the day as a souvenir. Add to it each year. Some participants even display their “Certificate of Participation” on their walls and Web sites.

10. Conduct K-9 Kontests.

Come up with contest ideas, such as best trick, friendliest canine co-worker, the “lazy dog” employee of the day or most talented. Use your imagination for other fun contest categories. Get local pet-supply retailers to donate prizes or order official TYDTWDay items HERE.

If any of you take your dogs to work, be sure to let me know how it went!!

Summer

Happy Summer Solstice!! Ah, the first day of summer. I wait for this day all year long. I don't have anything against the other seasons, but summer has ALWAYS been my favorite. I love the fact that we have more daylight hours today than any other day. I just love having lots of daylight, after I get home from work. I like going to work in the sunshine and coming home in the sunshine. I love taking the dogs out at nearly 9 p.m. and having a little light left. I just feel that I have more "me" time in the summer. All winter long, I wait for the first day of spring and warmer weather. In the winter, I feel like a prisoner, and summer is freedom. I LOVE to be outside. Most afternoons, you can find me out at the pool swimming my laps, or out walking the dogs, or just out on the porch visiting with my mother. Once I get off from work, it's very hard for me to stay inside. I just NEED that good dose of fresh air and sunshine everyday. So if you guys need me, I'll be outside.

Get Those Pets on the Pill

I have volunteered my time to animal humane activities and causes, since I was in high school. For some reason, I missed one of the newest things going. It's the movement to use oral contraceptives and implants as a method of sterilaztion for pets. This could be much cheaper than surgically spaying and neutering pets. There is an organization that is spearheading the research and ideas in this area. It is called The Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs. Here is what they do:

ACC&D is an international, collaborative effort to save the lives of dogs and cats and to reduce their numbers through developing non-surgical technologies for the humane control of cat and dog populations. Members represent the following collaborative interests: academics (research and teaching), animal welfare, veterinary practitioners, the pharmaceutical industry, funding foundations, and regulatory agencies.

Click HERE to view their mission statement.

They have an active petition campaign to encourage support for their mission.

Here is a snippet from the petition:

Imagine being able to sterilize your dog or cat without surgery or anesthesia, but with a simple injection. While a sterilization injection is not available yet, it will be. WHEN is a matter of how much the public pressures pharmaceutical companies, scientists, regulators and funders into developing the right tools. While many U.S. pet owners are able to afford and access spay/neuter surgery, it's often a different story for low-income pet owners and rural residents. Surgical sterilization is also logistically difficult and expensive for population control of un-owned animals, such as shelter animals and feral cats. An estimated five million cats and dogs die each year in US shelters alone.

I think this is a really good idea. It's definitely something that I'd like to research. I'm sure that it will take a while to get all of the details worked out, but the end means could be a great thing. I did sign the petition.

Happy Weekend!

We still have the little guest dog at our house. I was going to talk to her owners last night, but they hadn't gotten home by the time I called it a night (which was around 12:30 a.m.) Casey is going to try to catch them sometime today. She decided that she would overnight with us AKA we couldn't get her outta the house without a fight. She was as happy as a little lark, eating dogfood and chewing on the occassional Nylabone. The little stinker even chewed away on the corner of The Last Command. It wasn't too bad, but it still irks me. I haven't had anything like this happen, since Bear was a puppy. He read the middle of the 5th Harry Potter book with his teeth! It wasn't hard to break him from the habit with chews and other things that he COULD chew to his heart's desire. This little girl is well old enough to know better. Looks like I have work to do, if she's going to hang around with me. Maybe her family can convince her to go back home. It's still the strangest thing that I've ever seen.

I don't have any mind blowing plans for the weekend. The forcast is rainy, so I expect I'll be in the house most of the time. We might go rent a few movies to keep us busy. Casey has shelter duty tomorrow morning. I'll do my housecleaning tomorrow, since I have to take Mom for her doctor's checkup on Monday. She and I are planning to have a really nice lunch somewhere, but we haven't decided exactly where yet. We always have a good time on our doctor outings. It gets us out of town for a change of scenery. Other than that, my plans are wide open. Who knows what I'll get into. Everyone have a great weekend!

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

The strangest thing happened about two days ago. The neighbors that live behind us have this little dog. She looks like a little Sheltie mix, and she's Bear's size. They've had her ever since they moved in, which was about five years ago. We've always known her. She meets us in the back yard, when we let our dogs out. Whenever I would walk Bear in front of her house, she would finish walking the last block with us, and then cut through our back yard to go back home. She and Bear just love playing together outside. Anyway day before yesterday when Casey and I pulled into the driveway after work, she met us there. Not only did she meet us, but when I opened the door to get out, she jumped into the car with me. We finally got her out, and I didn't think anymore about it. Yesterday, it was the same scenario. She met us in the driveway and jumped into the car...but that wasn't all. When I opened the door to go inside, she just walked right in and made herself comfortable. She has very thick fur, so I knew she was hot. I let her stay inside and cool off until suppertime. Later I had gone to take a shower, and when I got done she was back inside!! Casey said she came in, when my friend Elaine stopped by. We let her stay inside until bedtime. She, Bear, and Fergie had the best time playing. This morning, she was at the backdoor waiting to come inside. She had a bite to eat and a drink of water. Again, she jumped into the car with us. For a minute, it looked like she was going to follow our car.

It's just the weirdest thing. She's known us for years. Why would she have such an interest in us so suddenly? Today as soon as the neighbors get in, I'm going to go down there and let them know that she's been hanging out at our house. I don't want anyone thinking that I'm trying to steal their dog or anything. When she comes into the house, she acts like she BELONGS there. The weirdest part is all of my dogs act the same way!! It's just like no big deal to them? I'm just left to think, "what do I do now?"

The Nose Knows!

Most everyone knows that dogs have been using their keen sense of smell to hunt down drugs, bombs, missing people, and now even cancer. But did you know that dogs are also being used to sniff out bedbugs in apartments and hotels and pirated DVDs and CDs? Now, many dogs have been put to work to sniff out these new items. Read all about it HERE.

James Estrin/The New York Times

Jada, with her owner, Carl Massicott, seeking out bedbugs for pay.

I wondered how they were able to do this for a very long time. I somewhat finally understood the process, when I began working at Kindred Spirits last year. This is how it was explained to me. When a dog catches a scent or smells something specific, such as a drug or food, he doesn't smell the combination of ingredients or substances. A dog can smell each ingredient that makes up the whole. For example if you had a bowl of creamed corn, a dog could smell the corn, salt, pepper, butter, and any other ingredient individually.

Here is another interesting fact about how acute a dog's sense of smell really is:

Smell is a dog's sharpest sense. Next time a dog sniffs at you, think about this: just by smelling, a dog can tell where you have been and what you have been doing, what you have eaten, and even whether you are not feeling well. (Perhaps it's a good thing that dogs can't talk.) The dog is using its nose the way you use your eyes to recognize people and figure out something about them. You know your little sister just came home from school because you see that she has her B backpack on; she had peanut butter and jelly for lunch because it is all over her shirt; and she looks might have a cold. A dog's nose enough to detect the scents your little sister picked up at school, the pb and j, and even the chemical changes that take place in her body if she is ill.

Here's another cool fact:

A classic study of dogs’ olfactory capabilities showed that dogs could reliably discriminate members of a single family, including siblings and even fraternal twins.1 A trained dog can retrieve the one stick handled by his owner from a pile of 20 or 30. In other tests, dogs trained to detect a certain odor were able to identify the scent even when presented with a complex blend of scents.

"So, just follow the nose. It always knows!!"

Need A Kitty?

This month has been so crazy I nearly forgot to remind everyone about this. June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. If you are looking for the furry, feline companion, please take a look at the animal shelter first. Shelters have cats of all kinds, just waiting for good homes. At this time of year, shelters are overcrowded with cats and kittens. If you adopt a shelter cat not only will you get a lifelong companion, but you help out the shelter and other cats as well. Take a look at the shelter stats below by the ASPCA.

There are about 5,000 community animal shelters nationwide that are independent; there is no national organization monitoring these shelters. The terms “humane society” and “SPCA” are generic; shelters using those names are not part of the ASPCA or the Humane Society of the United States. Currently, no government institution or animal organization is responsible for tabulating national statistics for the animal protection movement.

Approximately 8 million to 12 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year, and approximately 5 million to 9 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats). Shelter intakes are about evenly divided between those animals relinquished by owners and those picked up by animal control. These are national estimates; the percentage of euthanasia may vary from state to state.

According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2 percent of cats and only 15 to 20 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. Most of these were identified with tags, tattoos or microchips.

Twenty-five percent of dogs who enter local shelters are purebred. (Source: NCPPSP)

Only 10 percent of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. About 75 percent of owned pets are neutered.

The majority of pets are obtained from acquaintances and family members. About 15 to 20 percent of dogs are purchased from breeders, and 10 to 10 percent of cats and dogs are adopted from shelters and rescues. (Source: Ralston Purina and NCPPSP)

More than 20 percent of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted them from a shelter. (Source: NCPPSP)

Five out of ten dogs in shelters and seven out of ten cats in shelters are destroyed simply because there is no one to adopt them.

The following data are ASPCA estimates unless otherwise indicated.

Our grand cat of the house, Lucy, is 14 years old. She rules the kingdom from the top down, dogs included. I adopted her from my local shelter, when she was only 6 weeks old. She's been with me and Casey ever since. I wouldn't trade her for the world!

EXCITEMENT!!

Today has just been one of those run around everywhere days. Busy, busy, busy. I did find out some fantastic news. My humane association received a $1000 grant to use for our 2nd annual Celebration Pet Day. That means that we can do everything that we want to do, and we can do it nicely. The news came in this morning.

Last night, I had my planning committee's first meeting. The ideas and programming that everyone has lined up is fantastic. There's something for every pet lover. This year, we are also offering a lot of pet educational classes. I've even got a call in to a Red Cross representative about doing pet CPR certifications. This is all just the tip of the iceburg for us. I can't wait to see what all we put together. Gotta run...so busy today!! I'll fill everyone in tomorrow!

Visiting Melissa

After breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed out from Columbus to Cincinnati. We got to Melissa's around noon. It was so good to see her. The last time we got to visit was the end of last October, so it was a reunion of sorts for us. We sat around and just caught up for about an hour or so, before her sister, Sherry, arrived. After catching up with Sherry, we were headed out to see something of a religious monument. Melissa and Sherry just couldn't stop talking about it. It is a HUGE paper mache' Jesus that has been constructed by a local church there. It is so big, that it can be seen by traffic passing on the interstate. Melissa and Sherry said that it was such a sight to behold, that it was causing wrecks on the interestate and nearby streets. Of course, Casey and I just HAD to see it, so we were off. After about a 15 minute drive, it was finally revealed to us.

This thing is so big that in the picture you can see how it looms high above the roof of the church. There was a little amphitheatre in front of it, with a nice little pond and walking path in front of it. There were gardens, benches, and lots of ducks and geese there. Casey took lots of pictures as we were walking the path.

Sherry, me, and Melissa in front of the paper mache' Jesus.

After our visit with the paper mache' Jesus, we headed to Melissa's grandmother's house for a big family cookout. I finally got to meet the family that I'd heard so much about over the years. We met Melissa's grandmother, great grandmother and grandfather, her aunts, her mother and her fiance', and her uncle. They were all such warm, friendly, wonderful people. The food was fantastic, and the company was even better! When we finished eating, it was time for the great Cornhole tournament. Now before you all go off and make some terrible remarks, it's a bean bag game.

The object is to toss a bean bag (full of corn) into a hole in a slanted, wooden board. On the board is 1 point and through the hole is 3 points. I never got one through, but I always got close..."but no cigar". Casey, however, was quite good at it. Melissa and Sherry reigned as team champions. Late that afternoon, it was time to tell everyone goodbye and head back to Mel's place. On our way, Mel called one of her friends, Josie, to come by and join us. We spent the rest of the evening sitting out on Mel's patio talking, drinking wine, and eating chips and salsa. It was wonderful just to relax and visit. Josie is a great girl, and a whole lotta fun. Casey, who was surrounded by women, fit right in. We had some REALLY interesting conversations. Around 11:00, Sherry and Josie headed home, and me, Mel, and Casey went back inside. Mel had bought us a delectable treat, Graeter's Ice Cream! Folks, this is some of the BEST ice cream that I've ever had. Melissa introduced us to Greater's on our first visit, and we've been hooked ever since. After a HUGE bowl of mint chocolate chip and much satisfaction, I called it a night.

On Monday Mel had grad classes, but we had time for lunch. So, we went to another favorite place of ours, Skyline Chili. Here's a couple of shots Casey took, while we were there.

After a good meal and some very sad goodbyes we saw Melissa off to class, and we headed for home. All in all, it was such a WONDERFUL trip and a much needed break. I just can't wait to go again! Everyone have a good weekend!

COSI - Ohio

We were later leaving out for Columbus than we had planned. Since the vet had kept Slate overnight we had to pick him up before we left. We got him back home and settled in with my Mom. We quickly loaded the car and were on our way. The weather for the drive up was just horrible. It poured rain all the way from Nashville to Louisville, KY. That made us run even later. As we got on the far side of Louisville the rain finally stopped, and the sun came out. It was nearly dinner time, so we stopped right outside of Columbus for a bite to eat. When we got into town we went straight over to COSI, and met up with our friends. It was great to see everyone in costume and trooping. We had friends with both the Rebel Legion and the 501st. One of our friends managed to get us in for a sneak peek at the exhibit, Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. It was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! So many of the props that were used in the Star Wars movies were there and up close to look at. It was sensory overload. There were robots that you could build yourself, an actual landspeeder that you could ride in, a flight in a lifesize cockpit of the Millenium Falcon, and many other interactive things.

After a quick preliminary trip through the exhibit, Casey and I headed over to the hotel to unload the car and freshen ourselves up (By that time it was nearly 9 p.m.) After a little relaxation, it was time to head down and line up for the midnight opening of the exhibit. We walked the 5 blocks down from our hotel. Columbus is a lovely city, so it was a really nice walk. While we waited outside, we got to talk with several people and interact with the troopers. The people were finally let inside at timed intervals to mingle, eat, get an autograph from Jeremy Bulloch (the original Boba Fett), and go through the exhibit. The food was great, and the company and exhibit were even better! We finally got back to the hotel and fell into bed around 3 a.m.

On Saturday, we got up and headed out for a bite to eat. While we were out, we decided to explore the city a little bit. It was so clean and neat. We found a really great cigar shop there with an even bigger reputation called Pipes and Pleasures. Casey loves cigars and pipes, so he was in heaven. Later that afternoon, we headed back to the exhibit and went back through to get some pictures. Everyone was clearing out for the day, so it was a lot easier to get them taken. We then headed back for the hotel, stopping on the river bank to get a bite to eat and take in some of the Art Festival the city was holding. After a huge gyro, it was back to the room and into the pool. Saturday night was the 501st and Rebel Legion party. It was great to get to eat and visit with our friends. Since I had missed him at the exhibit, I had a chance to get an autograph and speak with Jeremy Bulloch. All in all, a fantastic weekend in Columbus. Here are some pictures from the exhibit.

A Clone Trooper outside entertaining the crowd.

More Clone Troopers inside.

Me with Anakin's and Obi Wan's costumes.

Tusken Raider costumes.

Model of Luke Skywalker on his Taun Taun used for The Empire Strikes Back...look at that detail!

Casey with a Destroyer Droid

To see all of the pictures from the COSI weekend, click HERE. Tomorrow, the trip to Cincinnati...stay tuned.